Page 88 of Cowboy Bear's Hope

Dozens of pink balloons were tied in bunches around the barn, and glittery banners and streamers hung from the rafters.

Everyone had pitched in to make today special. Kian had even plowed and salted the road leading to the ranch just so Rosie’s friends could make it.

It was going to be an awesome party. I was damn well going to make sure of that.

“You got Trixie? Let’s give it to her,” Avery asked, probably wondering why I was standing there like an idiot.

My chest squeezed and a moment of fear hit me that I had to go and meet that challenge. That I might be leaving her here all alone.

Fuck.

“Don’t say a word about this to her, Kian, understand?”

“I got you,” he said, and I nodded.

“Be right there, Honey,” I said and tried to smile.

But Avery knew something was up and her brows furrowed, and her lips turned down in a frown.

“Where are they?” I asked Kian quietly.

“By the empty bull pen. Zeke is there, too,” Kian said.

“Okay, let’s show Trixie to Rosie. Then I want you to stay here and watch them for me.”

“You’d ask me to watch over your family?” the Bull asked eyebrows sky high.

“Look, you might be an ass most of the time, but you’re Crew, Kian. I trust you to keep my family safe,” I said, and I meant it.

“I will. On my honor,” he replied, and then he ruined it by hugging me.

“Get. Off.”

I shook him off and walked towards the barn with the pony, ignoring him the best I could.

“Too late now, Yogi. I know how you really feel. It’s all about the love, bro!”

I growled with my Bear, making him jump. But when he wasn’t looking, I grinned.

Idiot.

But yeah, I did trust him to keep my girls safe while I went to take out the trash.

No one threatened what was mine. And these fuckers thought they could come to try to take me away from my family today of all days?

Hell no.

That was so not going to happen.

Chapter Twenty-Seven-Avery

Something was wrong.

I could feel it hanging in the air like a bad smell, thick and unsettling. And no, it wasn’t the barn animal poop making me scrunch my nose.

This was something else. Something I couldn’t quite put my finger on.

But it made my skin prickle and my stomach twist into tight, uneasy knots.

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